Key orders and deliveries in April provided an additional boost for Airbus’ 2015 year-to-date activity, resulting in a backlog of 6,399 aircraft that ensures approximately 10 years of continued production at current rates for its jetliner families.
Leading the month’s new business was Avianca’s purchase agreement for 100 A320neo Family aircraft. In firming up the Memorandum of Understanding announced in February, this brings total Avianca airline group bookings to 291 Airbus jetliners, composed of 276 for the A320 Family and 15 for the A330 Family.
Among the other orders logged for Airbus’ single-aisle product line in April were two from leasing companies: Avolon, acquiring four A320ceo (current engine option) aircraft; and two A320ceo versions for BOC Aviation. Additionally, one ACJ318 corporate jet was purchased by an unnamed private customer.
Completing the month’s activity was Middle East Airlines’ booking for a widebody A330-200.
With these transactions, the total gross orders registered by Airbus so far this year were for 229 jetliners as of 30 April. Taking 2015 cancellations into account (none of which were listed in April), Airbus’ net orders total was 209 for the year as of the month’s end.
Airbus listed 62 deliveries during April – composed of 50 A320 Family aircraft, nine A330s and three A380s. For Airbus widebody jetliners, this activity included the second A380 to Etihad and the 60th very large airliner flagship for Emirates; along with four A330s to Turkish Airlines (involving three A330-300s and one A330-200F freighter). Notable single-aisle aircraft delivery milestones were the four A320s delivered the same day to Qatar Airways, the five A320s provided during the month to EasyJet, and the six A321s aircraft supplied in April to American Airlines.
Other key deliveries were the first A321 provided via Air Lease Corp. to Volaris, making this airline a new A321 operator; and the second A320 for Nepal Airlines, which was loaded with relief supplies for survivors of the country’s devastating earthquake.